Tipped Tractor - Oil in Cylinders Question

[Henro]

Some years ago I tipped my B2910 on its side. I think at the time I knew that if the tractor laid on its side for a while it could get oil in the cylinders, which would cause hydro lock when started, resulting in severe damage.

But it was on its side for less than an hour, so I figured time was my friend (now I think this was a mistake) and had no problems. That was between 300 and 500 operating hours ago I guesstimate.

I had thought oil would leak into the cylinders past the piston rings, so short-duration time was my friend.

I am now thinking I was just lucky. Thinking about it, seems like there might be another path for oil to get into the cylinders, through the valve guides. But either past the rings, or past the valve guides seems like it would still take time.

Could fuel gravity feed through the injector pump and injectors, into the engine?

So the question is, since we do know that hydro locking after a tip over does happen, by what mechanism does it happen?

Without compression to seal the piston rings, does oil easily flow past the rings into the cylinders?

Is the path via the end gap that each ring has?

Or?

 

[Russell King]

Fuel would not pass through the injectors unless they are bad and leak under little to no pressure


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[Fordtech86]

Couldn’t it get oil into the crankcase vent into the intake?? Resulting in it filling the cylinders?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Yes oil can leak past the ring gap when submerged in oil.
And yes the valve stem seals could leak if they are bad, but less likely.

But the #1 path for oil to get to the pistons is via the intake.... How the heck can that happen you say... Crankcase breather.

When turned over and running it can actually even just push oil into the intake via pressure, and either you get a run away motor and or it will hydrolock.

If you're quick and lucky to shut it down, yet oil still flows into the intake, upon righting the engine all the oil in the intake will flow into a piston or two and on a crank you now have hydrolock and probably a junk motor.

 

[Henro]

[ snip ]

But the #1 path for oil to get to the pistons is via the intake.... How the heck can that happen you say... Crankcase breather.

[ snip ]

Now that’s interesting N. I. Wolfman!

I will have to look at my tractor and see where the PCV route is. Perhaps tipping on one side is safer than the other due to the routing of the PCV path? Not that tipping one’s tractor on either side is recommended...

Would never have thought of this possibility. Never even considered my B2910 would have PCV, but that makes sense now that I think about it.

 

[Fordtech86]

Now that’s interesting N. I. Wolfman!

I will have to look at my tractor and see where the PCV route is. Perhaps tipping on one side is safer than the other due to the routing of the PCV path? Not that tipping one’s tractor on either side is recommended...

Would never have thought of this possibility. Never even considered my B2910 would have PCV, but that makes sense now that I think about it.

You would know immediately after restarting if you had issues. 3-500 hrs after the fact and no issues then whats there to worry about?

 

[Henro]

You would know immediately after restarting if you had issues. 3-500 hrs after the fact and no issues then whats there to worry about?

Agree

But that was not why I asked the question. I was curious about how liquids got into the cylinders when a tractor is tipped over...

 

[Fordtech86]

Agree

But that was not why I asked the question. I was curious about how liquids got into the cylinders when a tractor is tipped over...

I gotcha